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To my understanding, Jehovah's Witnesses try to exclude pagan influences from their practice. Whether or not they do, what is their reason for doing this?

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That's like asking why a mouse would exclude a cat. – Joel Coehoorn Dec 21 '11 at 4:31
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@Joel: JWs go out of their way to avoid anything derived from pagan practices, far more than other Christians. One of the best-known examples is their refusal to celebrate Christmas, which the rest of us generally have no problem with even though we know where it came from. I think that attitude is what the question is about. – Mason Wheeler♦ Dec 21 '11 at 12:59
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@JoelCoehoorn: Is it that simple? Obviously a mouse is in danger when around a cat. However that is not open to interpretation. Do you feel Christians are committing sin when celebrating Pagan customs? I assumed this had to do more with the interpretation from Jehovah's Witnesses. You're painting it in more black and white terms. – rpeg Dec 21 '11 at 19:37

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Based on this 15 December 2007 article from The Watchtower, called Can a Pagan Holiday Be Made Christian?, the answer comes from 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (New World Translation).

14Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be´li·al? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” 17“‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take YOU in.’”

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For reference, upper-case you is the NWT's way to indicate plurality. – TRiG Jan 1 '12 at 21:53
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As a Jehovah's Witness in doing research on these Holidays I found that they are celebrations founded when Rome in the years 100-300ad tried to unite all the different beliefs practiced at that time they took the names of the pagan holidays and gave them Christian names . They are still Pagan and created back in the days of Nimrod . He built the tower of Babel. The Extended Babel is found in Rev 17-18, called Babylon the Great. In Rev 18:4 God warns us to get free from her and her practices. We therefore have nothing to do with those holidays which were and stil are founded by Satan through Nimrod. this is a condensed version but I hope it helps

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This is not bad, but it would be better if you cited some references that support your answer. What makes a good supported answer? – David Stratton Nov 2 '12 at 19:08
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Welcome to Christianity.SE and thanks for taking the time to answer. Yes it does help ... although we would love to see the expantions as well. Summaries are great and you should keep that in your answer, but more detail for those that want it would be great, esp references to official doctrinal statements etc. – Caleb♦ Nov 2 '12 at 20:33

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